PURPOSE: This study was intended to investigate the migrating motor complex (MMC) changes after ileal bypass in ex-vivo mouse models. METHODS: Partial (side-to-side) and total bypass (occlusion of proximal part of bypassed loop) were performed on ileums of female Institute of Cancer Research mice. After 2 and 4 weeks, the bypassed segments were harvested and MMCs were recorded at 4 different sites ex-vivo. Amplitude, duration, interval, direction of propagation, and the area under the curve (AUC) of MMCs were measured and compared to those of the controls. RESULTS: In control mice (n = 7), most MMCs propagated aborally (91.1%). After 2 weeks of partial bypass (n = 4), there was a significant decrease in both amplitude and AUC, and orally-propagating MMCs increased significantly (45%, P = 0.002). Bidirectional MMCs (originating in the bypassed loop and propagating in both directions) were also observed (10%). The amplitude of the MMCs remained decreased at 4 weeks after partial bypass (n = 4), and neither the AUC nor the direction of propagation showed significant changes compared to 2 weeks. Similarly, in the total bypass model, both the amplitude and AUC of the MMCs decreased significantly compared to controls. In contrast to partial bypass, 95% of the MMCs within the bypassed loop propagated aborally after 2 weeks (n = 6), which was similar to the control state. After 4 weeks (n = 5), however, MMCs either lost their temporal relationship or completely disappeared. CONCLUSION: The changes in propagation direction of the MMCs in the partially bypassed loop may contribute to stagnation of bowel contents and the development of blind loop syndrome.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Blind Loop Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Ileum ; Jejunoileal Bypass ; Mice ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetus* ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Pregnancy

We performed dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the bcr/abl fusion in CML using the peripheral blood smears without destruction of cell morphology to determine the bcr/abl fusion. Two patients of CML, one patient in accelerated phase and one patient in chronic phase, were selected. The blood smears were fixed in absolute methanol. FISH was performed with the Mbcr/abl translocation DNA probe mixture and the slides were stained with Wright's stain after FISH. The blood smears of both cases revealed distinct signals without destruction of cellular morphology. The normoblasts and lymphocytes revealed beautiful fused bcr/abl signals as well as granulocytes in both cases. The results provide a novel finding that the normoblasts and lymphocytes in CML are also neoplastic clonal cells which has not been demonstrated with a single-cell approach before.
DNA ; Erythroblasts* ; Fluorescence* ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Lymphocytes* ; Methanol

OBJECTIVE: Metastatic dissemination of epithelial ovarian carcinoma is thought to be mediated via tumor cell exfoliation into the peritoneal cavity, followed adhesion to and invasion through the mesothelium which overlies the contents of the peritoneal cavity. MMP-2 is secreted as a zymogen, the activation of which has been associated with metastatic progression in human ovarian cancer cell lines. METHODS: We have utilized short-term cultures to analyze the effect of specific extracellular matrix proteins, type I collagen. RESULTS: Culturing Caov-4 ovarian cell line on type I collagen led to a significant increase in conversion of the MMP-2,72kD to the MMP-2,66kD, and MT-MMP expression. MT-MMP expression correlates with expression and activation of MMP-2 during malignant progression. Altered MT-MMP expression in ovarian cell lines might contribute to MMP-2 activation, which facilitates invasion of these tumors. CONCLUSION: In summary, we found increased expression of MT-MMP that correlated with increased level of activated MMP-2 and cellular counts in chemoinvasion assay in Caov-3 cell line. But no significant increases in Skov-4 cell line on type I collagen. Conclusion: These data suggest that type I collagen induces MMP-2 activation in part by up-regulation of MT-MMP expression but has a more complicated mode of action involving additional processes.
Cell Line* ; Collagen Type I ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; Membranes* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Up-Regulation

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of diabetes education program on Glucose Metabolism(blood sugar. HbAlc) and Lipid Metabolism(total cholesterol. triglyceride. low density lipoprotein. high density lipoprotein). Self-efficacy in non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus. The study design was a non equivalent control group pre-test post-test design. Data for the study were collected from March 12 to June 19, 2001. Sixty-two research subjects were assigned to experimental (36) and control (26) groups. The collected data was analyzed using the Chi-Square test. t-test by spsswin program The results are as follows: 1. Experimental group had higher level of glucose metabolism than control group(FBS: t=-3.317. p=.002. HbAlc: t=-4.956. p=.000). 2. Level of lipid metabolism were partly a significant different between experimental group and control group(Triglyceride: t=-2.108. p=.039). 3. Experimental group had higher efficacy score than control group(t=4.651. p=.000). In conclusion. the study supported the effects of diabetes education program to increase metabolism and self-efficacy. Further study with a longitudinal design is suggested to verify the effect of diabetes education program in NIDDM and standardized diabetes education program.
Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Education* ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipoproteins ; Metabolism* ; Research Subjects ; Triglycerides

Although obturator herniae are rare, they are associated with a high mortality, as diagnosis is often delayed and the condition tends to occur in the elderly. The preoperative diagnosis is difficult because of nonspecific symptoms and sign. They often produce a small bowel obstruction. The treatment is always surgical. Several repair techniques have been described: a sac ligation alone, a direct suture repair, and the use of autologous tissue or prosthetic repair. Recently, the placement of permanent mesh prostheses, in a clean contaminated operative field, has been performed due to the minimal wound-related morbidity and patient mortality. Thus, utilization of a permanent mesh in an obturator hernia is a new, simple and effective method for repair. Two cases of a strangulated obturator hernia were experienced in elderly women. The peritoneal cavity was not overly contaminated, with only necrotic foci on the herniated small bowel wall noted. A segmental resection of the small bowel was performed. Consequently, the hernia defect was closed with mesh- plug between the peritoneum and periosteum of the obturator foramen. Here, two cases of obturator herniae treated by use of a mesh-plug are reported, with a brief review of the literature.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hernia ; Hernia, Obturator* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Mortality ; Periosteum ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Prostheses and Implants ; Sutures

PURPOSE: A traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR) is a diagnostic challenge and the associated injuries determine the outcome in those diagnosed early. A TDR has long been considered to be a marker of the severity of injury with an average reported Injury Severity Score (ISS) between 31 and 50. This report reviewed the TDR cases in order to emphasize the method and timing of the diagnosis, associated injuries and the outcome. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 30 patient treated for TDR between August 1998 and september 2002. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 33.4 years and the injury predomiantly affected males (male: female=2: 1). Blunt trauma by TA was the most common cause of the TDR (25 patients). The ruptured sites were on the left in 22 cases and on the right in 8 cases. The most common symptom was chest pain (23 cases) followed dyspnea (21 cases). Liver injuries and a pneumo-hemothorax were the most common associated injuries. The mean CRAMS scale was 6.47 and Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 18.93. Eighteen TDR cases were suspected based on the abnormal chest X-ray findings. Nineteen cases underwent surgery within 6 hours after the trauma (early diagnosis). Although many complications occurred in 11 cases, there were no lethal complications. The mean size of the diaphragmatic rupture was 9.77 cm and an intraabdominal organ herniation had not occurred in ruptures smaller than 6 cm. Surgical repair of the diaphragm was performed via a laparotomy in 20 cases and thoracotomy in 7 cases. A left side TDR was preferred to a laparotomy whereas a right sided TDR was preferred to a thoracotomy. Pulmonary complications (atelectasis, pneumonia, pleural effusion) occurred in 14 cases postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The patient's complaints and physical findings were not a reliable indicator of the diagnosis, but usually a manifestation of the associated injuries. A suspicion and routine chest X-ray was the most reliable diagnostic tool, even though the chest X-ray was normal in 12 cases. A high rate of early diagnosis can be achieved using an aggresive investigation protocol, suspicion and a combined radiologic evaluation in multiple trauma patients. Although pulmonary complications occurred in the early diagnosed cases, lethal complications and long term sequela were directly related to the time of diagnosis. The higher ISS had many complications (11 cases) but there were no lethal complications, long term sequela.
Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Laparotomy ; Liver ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, and accompanies various clinical symptoms including hypertension. Hypertension is associated with catecholamines secreted from the tumor, and is usually not severe. We report one case of malignant hypertension with cardiac failure in a patient with adrenal neuroblastoma, successfully treated with adrenalectomy. A 3 year-old boy complained of protrusion of the chest wall. Physical examination revealed severe hypertension with cardiac failure. The levels of metabolites of catecholamine were increased in blood (norepinephrine >2000 pg/mL) and urine (norepinephrine 1350.5 ug/day). Abdominal CT showed a 7 cm-sized solid mass arising from the right adrenal gland. After stabilizing the hemodynamics with oral phenoxybenzamine, right adrenalectomy was performed. Pathological diagnosis was a ganglioneuroblastoma. The hypertension and cardiac failure were resolved after tumor removal.
Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Catecholamines ; Child ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Neuroblastoma ; Phenoxybenzamine ; Physical Examination ; Polyenes ; Thoracic Wall

Splenic cystic lesion is uncommon in children, and cystic lymphangioma of the spleen has not been reported in Korean pediatric patients. Here we report a case of cystic lymphangioma arising from the spleen in a 16 year-old male. The patient presented with left flank pain for 5 days after blunt trauma to the same site. On physical examination, left abdominal tenderness and a palpable spleen were noted. Abdominal ultrasound and MRI revealed multiple septated macro-cystic mass abutting to the spleen medially, suggestive of cystic lymphangioma of the spleen. Laparotomy revealed a 20 cm sized cyst in the spleen, and 2,000mL of dark-brownish fluid was aspirated from the cyst. Splenectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed the cystic lymphangioma. Post-operative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged at 7 days after surgery.
Child ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Spleen ; Splenectomy

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein has been demonstrated to play an important role in chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. This study investigated the association between extracellular HMGB1 expression and disease activity, and clinical features of Behcet's disease (BD). Extracellular HMGB1 expression in the sera of 42 BD patients was measured and was compared to that of 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. HMGB1 expression was significantly increased in BD patients compared to healthy controls (78.70 +/- 20.22 vs 10.79 +/- 1.90 ng/mL, P = 0.002). In addition, HMGB1 expression was significantly elevated in BD patients with intestinal involvement compared to those without (179.61 +/- 67.95 vs 61.89 +/- 19.81 ng/mL, P = 0.04). No significant association was observed between HMGB1 concentration and other clinical manifestations, or disease activity. It is suggested that extracellular HMGB1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of BD.
Adult ; Aged ; Behcet Syndrome/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Extracellular Space/metabolism ; Female ; HMGB1 Protein/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Diseases/blood/genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult